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This Month in Philanthropy: May 2024

Fri, 31 May 2024 Estimated reading times: 1 minutes

Welcome to the latest edition of our gallery designed to showcase events, launches, project updates and activities happening in our busy member community.

The Gold Dinner 2024 made history by raising a remarkable $90.4 million for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation. This set a new record for fundraising by any Australian charity gala event and a new global record for a children’s hospital foundation gala. Pictured above are the Gold Dinner 2024 Committee L-R: Nicholas Smart, Monika Tu, Alina Barlow, Katie Evans, Bryce Sceresini, Benita Kam, Joshua Penn (Co-Chair), Linda Penn (Co-Chair), Kannon Rajah, Bernadette Nassif, Alessandra Eddy, James Auswild, Kristy Nassif Elias, and Sophie Curtis. 
The Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron launches its Lead the Way leadership program for existing partners in conjunction with the Social Impact Hub. The initiative responds to its partners’ needs for dedicated capacity-building for CEOs and senior leaders in the for-purpose sector. Twenty-nine CEOs and senior leaders from Canberra and Sydney are participating in the immersive program that develops leadership skills, builds connections and amplifies the impact of their organisations.
The Hon. Blair Boyer MP, SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills, launching the latest research from Alberts | The Tony Foundation’s Music Education: Right from the Start initiative, with SA Department for Education, Australian Council for Educational Research and Day Family Foundation, at The Pines School on 8 May. From left: Eric Sidoti, Rachel Felgate, Minister Boyer, Geoff Day, Emily Albert, Sonia Kilmister and Toula Girgolas (Photos: Naomi Jellicoe). 
The Myriad Alliance brought together more than 155 attendees at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network in Abu Dhabi in April to connect and explore opportunities to unlock the full potential of international philanthropy. Represented by Myriad Australia board members, Jonathan Duddles and Abhilash Mudaliar, the reception attracted regional and global funders interested in cross-border giving collaborations.
Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) held a Teacher Professional Learning in Industry Day in partnership with the Australian Centre for Career Education at Melbourne Business School and Aurecon. This event was proudly funded by the Toyota Community Trust. L-R: Dr Oscar Yu Tian (Monash), Cindy Huang (University of Melbourne), Dr Simon Clarke (Monash), Professor Inge Koch and Mabel Chen (RMIT), Chris Hume and Lawrence Lifson (Champion Data), Leanne McMahon (AMSI).
Dr Sandersan Onie from the Black Dog Institute spoke at its Annual Research Showcase on 14 May, a sector-learning opportunity bringing together supporters and those with an interest in mental health. Dr Onie shared rich insights from his research into suicide prevention at scale, such as the use of tailored internet advertisements to promote help-seeking in Australia, the US and Indonesia. Pictured: Dr Sandersan Onie 
The Adara Group joined a ‘fireside chat’ with Ansarada, hosted by Pledge 1% and the Atlassian Foundation.
They discussed what the Pledge 1% partnership between Adara and Ansarada looks like in reality, the impact they’ve created together, the role of honesty and trust in a good funder/fundee relationship, and how their partnership has evolved. L-R: Rachel Riley (Ansarada Co-Founder) and Audette Exel AO (Adara Group Founder and Chair). 
Fitted for Work staff and volunteer team at its Collaborate and Conquer event in May for National Volunteer Week. This event was an opportunity for Fitted for Work to thank and acknowledge the invaluable contribution their volunteer team makes across all areas of the organisation and, most importantly, to the women our services they assist. The event was full of laughter, learning and lots of connecting.
The Philanthropy Australia Family Foundation Sessions in Sydney and Melbourne explored influencing systemic change and how family foundations can actively engage with it. Across the states we heard from Macdoch Foundation, English Family Foundation, Dusseldorp Forum, Eureka Benevolent Foundation (EBF) and Small Giants. L-R are Michelle Di Fabio (Philanthropy Australia), Jess Perrin (EBF) and Jeremy Waanders (Small Giants) pictured presenting at the Melbourne event.
Pictured at the Family Foundation Peer Network event in Sydney are L-R: Rachel Findlay – Director Impact & Engagement (NSW & ACT) at Philanthropy Australia, speaker Belinda Morrissey – CEO of the English Family Foundation, speaker Sally Garis – Program Manager at the Macdoch Foundation and Emily Albert – Executive Director of Alberts.

Philanthropy Australia members can submit images to be included in the next edition of This Month in Philanthropy – In Pictures by filling out this form.

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